APCO played a significant role in the World Congress on Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases (WCO-IOF-ESCEO 2026) that recently concluded in the beautiful and historic city of Prague, Czech Republic. Held from April 16-19, 2026, the event solidified the Congress’s reputation as the world’s leading clinical event in the musculoskeletal field. The event opened by Prof Jean Yves Reginster and Prof Nicholas Harvey featured a gracious welcome address by Mr Patrick Zachar – the Deputy to the Czech Minister of Health Adam Vojtech. It was followed by insightful keynote lectures, including the traditional and much anticipated “Summing up of the Best Clinical papers of the year” by Prof Rene Rizzoli, and notable addresses by Prof Jotheeswaran Amuthavalli Thiyagarajan from the WHO on the WHO Bone Health Initiative, as well as on the current global challenges in academic publishing by Dr Sarah Onuora and insights into the genetic basis of diseases by Dr Kirsten Bos.
Over four productive days, attendees immersed themselves in a comprehensive scientific program featuring 10 plenary lectures, over 65 oral presentations, and 13 topical symposia. From the musculoskeletal effects of GLP-1 receptor agonists and the integration of AI in clinical practice to novel care pathways for post-fracture follow-up, the Congress addressed the most pressing “hot topics” in the field today. It was a landmark event that successfully fostered global collaboration for the ultimate benefit of patients worldwide.
APCO Members Lead from the Front in Scientific Sessions
APCO’s presence at WCO-IOF-ESCEO 2026 was both highly visible and deeply impactful, with members contributing across multiple scientific sessions including Plenaries, Symposia and Meet the Expert Sessions.
Prof Manju Chandran, APCO Chairperson, a Board member and Chairperson of the Fracture Working Group of the Council of Scientific Advisors (CSA) of the IOF, delivered three lectures across the main programme.
Her Meet-the-Expert session on “FLS: Current Global Challenges” addressed the real-world complexities of implementing and sustaining fracture liaison services across diverse healthcare systems, with particular emphasis on funding models, interdisciplinary collaboration, and bridging the persistent treatment gap between acute fracture care and long-term osteoporosis management.
Prof Chandran’s special CSA session titled “Fragile Bone, Fragile Constructs? Bone Health Assessment and Osteoporosis Therapies in Spinal Fusion”, was delivered to a standing room only audience that spilled out into the corridors. The session presented a construct-level framework for understanding implant fixation failure, integrating emerging evidence on bone quality assessment and the role of anti-osteoporosis therapies in improving surgical outcomes. The lecture was notable for its clinically grounded approach balancing mechanistic evidence with pragmatic peri-operative recommendations.
In addition, she organized and spoke at the Non-Sponsored Symposium (NSS) on “Mind-Body Exercises: Yoga and its Effect on Bone and Muscle Health”, where she delivered the opening lecture: “Introduction to Yoga and Its Relevance to Musculoskeletal Health”.
Beyond speaking engagements, she played a major leadership role across the Congress as:
- Co-Chair of the session on Guidelines for Fibrous Dysplasia, Hypophosphatasia and X-Linked Hypophosphatasia at the Skeletal Rare Disorders Training Course that preceded the main congress.
- Co-Chair, Scientific Session V, including the presentation of prestigious IOF awards such as the Olof Johnell Science Award. It was a particularly meaningful moment for her to chair the session where this award was presented, given her own recognition as a recipient of this award in 2021.
- Co-Chair along with Prof Ralf Schmidmaier at the ESCEO-DVO session on Current Highlights in Osteology. This session, which brought together the ESCEO (European Society for the Clinical and Economic Aspects of Osteoporosis) and the DVO (Dachverband Osteologie e.V./ German-speaking Scientific Osteological Societies), served as a high-level forum for leading European perspectives on vertebral fracture classification, emerging evidence and updated recommendations on aromatase inhibitor-associated bone loss in breast cancer, and the evolving role of fragility fractures as both clinical endpoints and therapeutic triggers.
- Co-Chair along with Prof Nick Fuggle at the NSS on Sarcopenia and Frailty (Bridging Science and Service), facilitating discussions on translational pathways from research to real-world care in the field.
Prof Peter Ebeling, Board and CSA member of the IOF as well as EXCO member of APCO, played a prominent role across both chairmanships and original research presentations.
At the ESCEO-WHO Innovation Session during the Opening Ceremony, he presented “ALIGNOGRAM1.0: AI-Powered Detection of Bone Tissue Disorganization – A Novel Biomarker for Fracture Risk & Treatment Response in Bone Disease, with a Focus on Rare Disorders” together with Roger Zebaze. This highlighted an important emerging direction in skeletal imaging: using AI-enabled assessment of bone tissue organisation as a potential biomarker for fracture risk, treatment response, and rare bone disorders.
He co-chaired the session on understanding manifestations and management of disorders such as Hypoparathyroidism, Pregnancy and Lactation induced osteoporosis and Tumor Induced Osteomalacia at the Pre Congress Skeletal Rare Disorders Training Course as well as Scientific Session I at the main congress, which featured high-impact plenary and oral communications on fracture risk prediction and treatment strategies.
He also presented original research from the Global Hypophosphatasia Registry, with his abstract: “Frequency of Ectopic Calcifications Among Patients with Hypophosphatasia in the Global HPP Registry” contributing to a growing body of work on rare metabolic bone diseases and their systemic manifestations.
Prof Ambrish Mithal, also a Board and CSA member of the IOF and APCO Scientific Advisory Board member, provided leadership as Chair of the NSS on Yoga and its effect on Musculoskeletal Health, guiding a highly engaging and multidisciplinary session that brought together perspectives from endocrinology, rehabilitation, and exercise science.
His role ensured that the discussion remained grounded in evidence-based interpretation, while also encouraging open dialogue on integrating traditional practices such as yoga into modern musculoskeletal care.
Prof Atsushi Suzuki
Prof Atsushi Suzuki- a Board and CSA member of the IOF and Scientific Advisory Board Member of APCO, delivered a key presentation in the special Capture the Fracture symposium, titled: “Learning from peers and building a strong FLS community – the Japanese experience”.
This session highlighted:
- Structured national approaches to FLS implementation
- The importance of peer learning networks
- Strategies for scaling high-quality fracture care across healthcare systems
He also:
- Chaired Scientific Session VI, demonstrating leadership in moderating high-level scientific discourse
- Presented findings from the JOINT-08 trial, which evaluated intensive FLS implementation strategies and their impact on reducing vertebral fractures in high-risk populations
His contributions underscored the critical role of system-level interventions and implementation science in closing the osteoporosis care gap.
Asst Prof David Lui, an EXCO Member of APCO, was the presenting author of the abstract “Development and validation of diabetes hip fracture score (D-HFS) in patients with type 2 diabetes: A population-based cohort study of Hong Kong” at the CNS Plenary Session as was A/Prof Lakshmi Nagendra, APCO Scientific Advisory Board Member, who presented the abstract “Fragility runs in the family: Intergenerational clustering of osteoporosis in a rural Indian cohort” at the same CNS Plenary Session. She also presented on the Effect of Yoga on Bone Metabolism at the NSS on Yoga and its effect on Bone and Muscle Health.
Yoga NSS: Science Meets Practice
A standout highlight of the Congress was the NSS on Yoga and Musculoskeletal Health, titled: “Mind-Body Exercises: Yoga and its Effect on Bone and Muscle Health: Myth, Magic, or Measurable Impact?” organized by Prof Manju Chandran, chaired by Prof Ambrish Mithal and in which Prof Chandran, Dr Lakshmi Nagendra and Dr Paras Bajaj spoke.
What made this session particularly memorable was its rare integration of rigorous science with lived practice. The session concluded with a live yoga demonstration, where members of the audience enthusiastically participated. This interactive segment transformed the session from a purely academic discussion into an experiential understanding of:
- Balance Challenges
- Neuromuscular Coordination
- Functional Loading Patterns
It was a powerful reminder that mind-body interventions, when carefully defined and studied, can bridge traditional knowledge and modern clinical science.
A Vibrant Presence at the CNS Village
Beyond the lecture halls, APCO made a significant mark at the CNS Village, a dynamic hub in the Congress Exhibition Hall where member organizations showcase their work and foster global collaborations. Standing out in this vibrant space was APCO’s visually stunning and intellectually engaging booth.
Designed by Prof Manju Chandran and APCO Project Manager Satpreet Kaur, the booth attracted visitors over the three-day congress. The booth featured:
- A Vivid Tribute: Celebrating the 24 countries and regions represented within the APCO collective.
- The Knowledge Corner: A fun, interactive space where attendees tested their awareness of the Asia Pacific region.
- A Resource Showcase: A comprehensive display of APCO’s clinical, policy, and educational initiatives, including our latest tools for improving osteoporosis care.
- A Taste of Asia: Visitors were delighted by takeaway gift packs featuring the special APCO logo inscribed pens and traditional Asian sweets.
A special shoutout to Dr Paras Bajaj, from National University Health System, Singapore who helped with setting up the APCO booth with Prof Chandran.
Celebrating a Decade of Leadership: Dr Philippe Halbout
A highlight of the Congress was a truly special milestone for our community. We are thrilled to congratulate APCO EXCO member and IOF CEO, Dr Philippe Halbout, who was recognized in Prague for 10 years of dedicated leadership at the helm of the International Osteoporosis Foundation. Over the last decade, Dr Halbout’s unwavering vision and commitment have been instrumental in driving our global mission forward. We celebrate his achievements and wish him continued success as he leads the organization toward a future of even greater impact for patients globally.
A Proud Moment for APCO and the Asia Pacific Region
The WCO-IOF-ESCEO 2026 in Prague was more than a conference; it was a celebration of collaboration, innovation, and global impact. APCO’s strong presence across leadership milestones, scientific sessions, and the CNS Village reflects the growing influence and excellence of Asia Pacific leadership in musculoskeletal health. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to every APCO member who contributed to this memorable showing in Prague. Together, we continue to set new standards for bone health globally.
